Catalyst technology can function with diesel fuel or E85 biofuel as reductant
NISKAYUNA, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--GE (headquartered in Fairfield, Connecticut) and Umicore (headquartered in Brussels, Belgium) today announced they have successfully completed a Technology Transfer and signed a Technology License agreement to commercialize a proprietary Hydrocarbon Selective Lean NOx Catalyst (HC-LNC) aftertreatment designed to reduce and control diesel engine NOx (nitrogen oxide) emissions for various transportation and stationary applications.
Working closely with GE Global Research and its partners over the past year, Umicore has reached key milestones in the development of the GE catalyst material in terms of production readiness, performance and durability. The two companies are now actively engaged in optimizing the commercial scale production of the material.
This new catalyst is an aftertreatment innovation capable of functioning with either diesel fuel or E85 biofuel as the reductant, providing an option to those segments of the marketplace seeking an alternative to urea-based SCR (selective catalytic reduction) technology. Umicore, an industry leader in catalyst technology and global supplier to many leading global automakers and commercial vehicle manufacturers, will work with GE Global Research, which has been developing HC-LNC technology since 2001, to offer the catalyst to customers in the off-highway and on-road vehicle segments, marine segments, and stationary power markets.
"We are excited to reach this agreement with Umicore for the development of this critical technology," said William Kernick, Vice President, GE Technology Ventures. "By partnering with a key developer and leading producer of catalyst technology, GE is creating opportunities to develop and market innovative emission reduction solutions across the transportation industry."
"We have developed an excellent relationship over the years with GE Global Research and GE Technology Ventures and have worked diligently to make these technology advances a success," said Joerg von Roden, Vice President, Automotive Catalyst North America. "There is more work ahead of us but the results we see today are highly promising and offer many potential benefits for our customers."
In keeping with GE's ecomagination program to help customers meet their environmental challenges, the partnership with Umicore also complements GE's extensive research and development efforts on emission-reducing technologies. In 2008, GE invested $1.4 billion on cleaner technology R&D, with a pledge to invest $1.5 billion on ecomagination R&D by 2010. R&D investment has reached a total of more than $4 billion since the ecomagination program launch. Similarly, as part of their mission to develop 'materials for a better life', Umicore generates approximately 50% of its revenues and spends approximately 80% of its R&D budget in the area of clean technology.
About GE Global Research
GE Global Research is the hub of technology development for all of GE's businesses. Our scientists and engineers redefine what's possible, drive growth for our businesses and find answers to some of the world's toughest problems.
We innovate 24 hours a day, with sites in Niskayuna, New York; Bangalore, India; Shanghai, China; and Munich, Germany. Visit GE Global Research on the web at www.ge.com/research. Connect with our technologists at http://edisonsdesk.com and twitter.com/edisonsdesk.
About GE Technology Ventures
GE Technology Ventures, a component of Corporate Finance, drives the technology commercialization and business development of licensing portfolios for GE. With close ties to GE Global Research, Technology Ventures supports the protection, development and marketing of GE's Intellectual Property on a global level, offering a dynamic combination of investing, licensing, industry and technical expertise.
About Umicore
Umicore is a materials technology group. Its activities are centered on four business areas: Advanced Materials, Precious Metals Products and Catalysts, Precious Metals Services and Zinc Specialties. Each business area is divided into market-focused business units, be it in products that are essential to everyday life or those at the cutting edge of new technological developments.
Umicore focuses on application areas where it knows its expertise in materials science, chemistry and metallurgy can make a real difference. Umicore generates approximately 50 % of its revenues and spends approximately 80 % of its R&D budget in the area of clean technology, such as emission control catalysts, materials for rechargeable batteries and photovoltaics, fuel cells, and precious metals recycling. Umicore's overriding goal of sustainable value creation is based on this ambition to develop, produce and recycle materials in a way that fulfils its mission: materials for a better life.
The Umicore Group has industrial operations on all continents and serves a global customer base; it generated a turnover of €6.9 billion (€ 1.7 billion excluding metal) in 2009 and currently employs some 13,700 people.
Todd Alhart
GE
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